Flow regulator



R. H. HUNTER v FLow REGULATOR '2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 00T.. 2l. 1946 ".lllilllllllllllllililllll IIIIIIIII l lllllillllllllllllllll MQ "i .Il Il Il lllillll Immul l 5 1 JA w 9 7g m www? m 7 ad 0 M a 1 12%@fm1/1f.11535212ELA g @um W@ attorney May 2, 1950 R. H. HUNTER 2,506,152

FLOW REGULATOR Filed Oct. 21. 1946 y 2 sheets-sheet 2 7a Z6 I 65a 6.5 Fly 6 Znwenfor Ru Z/h erfbrd [7'. Hun ier Patented May 2, IQSA UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE FLOW REGULATOR l Rutherford H. Hunter, Wooster, Ohio Application October 21, 1946, Serial No. 704,774

9 claims. l

The invention relates generally to a device for automatically regulating the ow of iiuid through a passageway under varying pressure conditions, and more particularly to a device for regulating the flow of the water supply to a water closet flush tank so as to'maintain the flow entering the tank substantially uniform regardless of variations in supply pressure over a wide range.

From a manufacturing standpoint, ball cock or valve assemblies, for controlling the iiow of water into water closet ilush tanks, are made to have a standard construction for universal use throughout the United States, and throughout most other parts of the world in which they are sold. It is common knowledge that the water supply pressure for domestic use varies greatly between different localities; for example, in one locality it may be as low as 15 pounds per square inch, while in another locality it may be as high as 160 pounds per square inch.

Certain prior ball cock constructions have been noisy due to vibration or water hammer, and attempts have been made to improve the construction of the ball cock so as to produce a substantially quiet operation. However, while such improvements have sometimes produced good results with a certain watersupply pressure, under widely different water supply pressures they become very noisy, and in some cases fail entirely to operate. l

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ow regulating device which will maintain the ow of uid through a passageway substantially uniform under varying conditions of supply pressure.

'wide variations in water supply pressure.

A further object is to provide a flow regulator which is adapted for use with various kinds of ball cock or valve assemblies for controlling the flow of water into water closet flush tanks.` A still further object is to provide a novel flow regulating device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which has no working parts to get out of order and require repair.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel ilow regulating device which overcomes the disadvantages of prior flow regulators, and which is adapted to be used with ball cock assemblies for water closet flush tanks, to render the same practicable for universal vuse with widely different water supply pressures.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and methods which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, anda preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and-illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof. In generaly terms, the flow regulating device of the present invention includes a ow regulating chamber connected in the water supply line leading to the flush tank, a resilient ow regulating element within the chamber and abutting said chamber walls, said element having an exterior spiral groove therein forming a spiral passageway adjacent said chamber walls, the inlet to said chamber being arranged to introduce water therein in such manner as to distort said element in proportion to diierent supply pressures so as to vary the area of the spiral passageway to maintain a substantially constant ow of water therethrough.

Referring to the drawings forming part hereof, in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of example; Q

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a ball cock in closed position, and embodying one form of the novel flow regulator; Fig.,2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view as on line 3-3, Fig. l

. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the ball cock in open position;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional vieW as on line 5 5, Fig. 4; 5

Fig. '6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec-- tional view, partly in elevation, of another emibodiment of the invention;

, Fig. 7 is a sectional view as on line 'I-'I,. Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the valve in open position.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. While the novel flow regulator has a number of applications, it is particularly adapted for regulating the now of water into a water closet flush tank for insuring eicient operation of the ball cock or valve controlling the flow of water into the tank. By way of example, I have shown the novel ow regulator applied to a ball cock assembly of the type disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 618,504, liled September 25, 1945, and entitled Silent ball cock, but obviously it may be applied to other types without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring rst to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the ball cock assembly includes a vertical water in1et pipe or vtube Illsecured at its lower end in a nut I I formed on the upper end of a threaded connectorv I2 which extends through an opening in the bottom wall I3 `of the ush tank. A suitable washer I4 ment and storage, and is connected With a Wate1} supply pipe in a usual manner when installed in the tank.

The upper end of the inlet tube. t-U; is secured in the boss I8 of a housing I9 and communicates with an inlet passage 2D around'theupper-fendl-l of which is an annular valve seat or shoulderA 2|. A diaphragm valve 22 of rubber or other de xlcle material is secured in the upperV portion oi'the housing 19. andthe valve 2.2; has a thiol? el' Ycentral body portion 23 which is adapted. to;y Seaton' the shoulder 2l and close the inlet, passage v2 0. l 'Ijhe body portion 23 has a small conical' vapertuQreZ4 extending therethrough with itsjlarge end uppermost. and this aperture permits. a: Small eruioulll", of. Wlter to flow through the diaphragm v, v'22,. into the pressure chamber 25Y formed hefbottom end of a pilot valve housing 2,5 w h is, screwed intothe upper end of the housing l;9. Theouter rimof the daphragmvalve 22. isbeveled as'indicated at 2l. and is engaged by a beveled surface onV the bottom end of the pilot ualve housing 2S. to securely clamp the. rim of theI diaphragm valve. Thev under surface of the of the'diaphragm valve is abutted by a metal plate 28 which is supported by an annular flange ljoljmed in the housing wall.

Afpilot valve 30 is mounted in the. housing 2 5, forlvertical reciprocating movement, and` controls the discharge o Water from the pressure Qhmber 25 intov a rell. line chamber 3 I to. the side'" of which a refill line pipe 32 is connected. The refill line pipe 32 conducts Waterto. an overfirm; pipe and thence to the teiletjbowl in.4 a usual fashion. l v

Thepilot valve. 3D has a stem 33,'Which extends upwardly through the rell. line chamber 3.I and connected above the housing 26 'wi th a lever arx'ri 34:`v The'lever arm 34 is pivotally connected atone end tor a link 35 on theupper end of hous- 26 and is pivotallyconnected at, its other end toa link 36' whichi is in turn pivoted to.' a yoke arm 31 attached 'tothe float ro'dj38." The float Yrod 38 has the usual 'float Y(not shown) at,- tached. to. its outer end for. rieineandfallinevvith the Water level inthe 'fiushtankl lreferably,v the pilot valve stemj33is1QQSely connected by means` of a clip 39"t o,l a crossjbar 4,0; Ilgt'he"V lever 344,1soth'at movement.of the oat rod Swill open.' and. close the piloti valve... the puilotjvalvle 3Uj'being in closed position,4 When the iid` tfisraisedA as in Fig. 1, and beingiri openpio` s ion when the floaty hasv dropped "as'iri'ligg'4,l de. Shown, a diaphrasm. partition '4l iS attached td'thevalve stem 3 3 Tat the top of the rell line chamber 3I, and its outer rim is. clamped by a. closure wire snap retaining ring 42y which. is Sprung. into ay retaining groove in the upperv end of housing; 26.-

The. pilot valve. 3.0" moves. up. and down. a socket formed by four arcuate circumferentially spaced ribsrli, the-spaces between ribsL providing Water passages around the'valve head!when it ivs"i-`=`the open position oiA Fig. 4 so that water Qanfow past thevalve seat MIv into the refill line cha'xnber"3ft.` Preferably, these ribsz are counte'r bred tofprovide shoulders` `dfi-'fon alzu'lttirig the upper-'e end `Aoffa helical' springV` 4:6 positioned' `in the socket formed by the ribs 43 and abutting the upper surface of the diaphragm valve 23 at its lower end. As shown, the upper surface of the diaphragm valve mayhave aanrannular rib il for centering= the Spring. on thediaphraem valve.

In the operation of the ball cock, when the water in the tank has been discharged so that the neat rod 3s drops te the position of Fig. 4,

thefpilot, valvcil is moved downwardly from its seat'MI to allow water to flow from the pressure chamber@ throughithe rell line 32 and this relieves, the pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm valve 22. 'lhe pressure of the incoming.. Water. tlrrougll.A the inlet tube. l0. will then lift the hodyport'oniof thediaphraeln against the, Spring. 416 to. the openlpoelticn of Fie 4. and' thejwater entering;` through.; tube.I Il!` can pass. through: the diaphragm valve. to fill; the flush'. tank.;VV At. the. Sametime, ai smallporton of, the incoming Water 'dovvsjthroueh the'conical aperture 24 and. aroundthefpilpttalve to'and through the. rellltHuerto-increase,the depth, of the water the. tqilctbowl while thetank. is filling- Wherl the water levelfin the tank has raised Sufcientllv to move. the float rod. upwardly and raise. the. pilot valve. as the. pilotvalve approaches the closed position; Qi, Fig.; 1; the; water pressure. on the bottoni'oi the L Izilot"willI snap itv shut and move the. clip ifia,elallt` distance alcove cross bar. 4.0; as Shown.. Withlthe pilotclosed, the flowof. water throuahthe.- conical aperture. 24y immediately' inor'eaelesfthe. water pressure oni the.' upper side" of diaphragm 'valvdlgandsince the. upper Surface of thevalveismuchgreater in area. than the lower Surface under pr sure., thejdifferen.- tial, pressure.. Lthefupperfslde of the. diaphragm valve `wi.l.1.n.1.....e."it. downwardly against the seat 2J; and. shut on. the. ow of; ncoruinawater.V

Thefpall. cock'. is" normallvnon-siphoning ber cause.iavacuum'islcreatedinthepressurecham.- ber '2.5. and. tube. 1.0;.' atmospheric pressure onf the` top. vofi the; pilotvalve. will open itjsli-ghtly until the clip 39' rests onthe cross bar 40,`Whi 'ch.i.S,Suf -i pent to break the seal. and destroy the. vacuum. Also.. they diaphragm.. valve body .23 is `normally held'against the seatl 2j Yin clpsedpositi'on, bythe tension. of; the rubber." Asian additional. lsafeguard; 'if for example.. therulcber valve. 23 becomes Set and shoctenasprinelth'is provided... Thus.. if thefvvater. s upplr'i-ninlet, tube; Iiiishould; su.dolen-- 1.he^"o.ut; Qf when. thejtankiis full; of.; water and thejvalve in.. clos" position; thitsgwoul'd tend. to. create'a'vacuumln. the tupefljandi in; the pres.` sureA chamberjZL- vacuum wloul'dv normally tendtolftthe'f diaphragm valve'off its seat due to the'greaterareaofits; upper Surfacegas a result off Whichtliewatr -from the tankjwould Siphon back throughgthe inletpipe Ill'.-4 `.f lowev er,v with the-spring-llfacting to maintain-"thevalve 2li-'on its seat; the Ilit-tingeeffect of the vacuum` under-'ali such-l conditions isfoveroome,

This ball cock'.'const'rfuthan has-'been found'V in actual p'racticeto` operate lvery satisfactorily with substantially no noise-or vibration, as long` as the water supply li'ne'pfressures `donot-*vary over too wideV arange,- Howeverfin order :to insure quiet and ecient-operation,the Vamountl of water flowing through the valve`v should beemantained. substantially constant. Since1 the ball cock assembliesfhavefa standardconstruction for'use in all part's- :ortheworldf'under conditions where the water supply may vary'from a few poundsup to nearly two hundred'pounds; itj is VVdesirable, vif not necessary,Y to provide some 'means' of lautomatical- Tlf regulating the through the Velvet fail* E aware; no 'satlsfaetdry regulating delvie heretofore been provided for satisfactorily elvi'ng' this' prolilerni.`

The improved flow regulator' of the present inention is preferably leated in the Water supply li-z'ie",` and may be ahead of the valve o'r behind the talee-f the regulator shown iii tlie' drawings being ltcated behind the valre.- The' regulator sliewn il'i Figs. I, 3 and- 4' preferably includes a oylildri* calftube $81 secured at"1 its upper end in' the bottoni oi'` housing lie and communicating" with-the outlet chamber' 49 thereof throng-h an aperi'fuie'58.Y The lei-tirerT end of the cylindrical housing 48' is pr-eren-I ably closed by acap i having outlet apertures 5l there`in.-

Within the cylindrical tube or housing 4S is a ow regulating element 53' wl'iieliis made of rubi bei"y or rubber composition s`o as to be resilient and distortable; The exterior of the element 53 has a spiral or helical rib 54 formed thereon thruglt its' length and said helical rib abllts" the Walls Ot' the housing de so as to forni a spiral or helical g'reove or' passageway 55 through which Water flowing into the upper part of the housing 48 is conducted tothe lower part` of the housing 48,l and thence out through the openings 52 into the tank?. Preferably, the bottom erld of the element 53 has' a* centra-l projection 56 which is supported by the Preferably, the element 53 is provided with a `here 5l which is open at the upper or' inlet end of the eleii'ient, and which is closed or terminates adijacelt the lower end of the' element. The bore 51 is preferably tapered as shown in Fig. 1, from a larger diameter at' its open upper end to a-'srn'all diameter at its closed lower end.k

Y When the water entering the inlet tube l0 flows past' the valve 22- a'nd intoY and through the liusing" 48, if the water is at low pressure,- it will ow through a helical gro-ove 55 at a sufficient rate so 'that the regulating element is maintained in a substantially normal condition as shown in Fig. l, and under these conditions, the diaphragm valve 22 will operate noiselessly and efficiently.

' Wlienthe pressure of the water inlet tube l0 is materially increased so as to tend normally te cause' vibration or chattering or noisein the valve,

the pressure of the Water entering the regulator housing 48 will compress the regulator v'eler'nefit 53 longitudinally, and at the saine time' the pressure f the WIS/tel' in the bore 5l Will distort l Cme' -ps the Walls of the helix radially, S0 as t0 glf'at` ly reduce the cross sectional area of the helical groeve 55 in a iran-ner Asuch as indicated in Fig, 4. The `result is that the rate of flow through the 'hel-ical groove 55 is automatically reduced in pr-'- 's'tanti'ally the saine as it was with the lower pres# sure, thus insuring the most efficient and quiet operation of the valve.

The purpose of tapering the bore Sito a smaller cross sectional area at its closed end is to provide for reducing the area of the helical groove 55 by Water pressure uniformly throughout its length. When the Water pressure inside of the bore 51 is tending to force the walls oi the helix 53 radially outward, such action is resisted to some extent b'y the pressure of the water flowing through the helical groove 55. The pressure of the water in the helical groove gradually becomes less as it iuipioaoiieo the lower end, due to the friction loss loi" pressure drop from the tp to the bottoni end of the groove. Consequently, the resistance to the radially outward graduali-y beeones less, and-therefore order to lip the ossl non of the Helical groove se uniform, uieares e; the bore 5T istaper'e so that the increasing wall thickness of tlie lleliX aids in resisting the lad'l 1y outward pressure and the amount of reduction of the groove area is kept uniform. l

Accordingly, in Fig. 4, the helix 53 isf-shown ulder the compression' of relatiyely high Water supply Iiiressiire",l being compressed somewhat lon` eitudirially, and' the bore Elbeing radially expanded so as to uniformly reduce the' size of the helical groove 55 throughout its length. Thus, tli' a'nllilt of Water ll'Wilig through the plings 5i into the tank is automatically regulated to be maintained substantially constant regardless of variations in supply pressure.

Referring. to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6',` and 8, the portion of aY ball cockr assemblyv shown lincludes a supply tube `llez connected at its upper end to an inlet passageiq in a housing lea, a valve seat Zia being provided around the top of the inlet passage. A diapli-ragni valve 22a is mounted in the housing Afor seating on the valve seat 2 la,- and is clamped by the lower end of a pilot valve housing 26a, in which a pressure chamber 25a. is formed.

When the valve 22ais open, the Water from the supply tube loa flows' past the valve through the outlet port 50a, and thence through a central inlet port 59d into the inlet side of a now regulator chamber formed by the cylindrical housing Gilav and Sia, which may be screwed together as shown for assembly purposes'. The housing part Sie; hasv a central outlet port 62a which colninu nicates with the down flow pipe 63a, through which water discharges into the llush tank.

Within the flow regulator chamber formed by the housing parts 60a and 6 la, a resilientdistorta able flow regulator disk or element 64a is located, and both opposite surfaces of the disk are provided with a spiral groove 65a which starts at the center' of the disk and spirals outwardly to its outer edge. Adjacent the outer edge, the disk is provided with several ports 65a which extend through the disk and provide communication oetween the Spiral grooves @5av at their outer poi*- tions. In the inlet side of the chamber, a fiat nietal plate or wall G'l is movably mounted, and the plate is normally spaced from the-inlet Side of the flow regulator' chamber by 'an annular shoulder 68a in the housing part 6ta. The plate ll'a' has a central opening Sgo-which registers with the inlet port 58a to the chamber and the outlet port 50d from the valve.

Thus', when the Water under pressure oWs over the valve and through port 59a, it will force Vthe plate 67a to the 'right as viewed in Fig. 6 'and coniVE press the spiral ribs denirig the 'spiral grooves 65d so as to reduce the cross sectional area ofthe spiral grooves' in a manner indicated in Fig. e. The water entering the opening 69a will flow' through the inlet side spiral groove 65a outwardly to the apertures 66d, then through the apertures and into the outlet side spiral groove 65a, and thon spifany inward io the ouuei por-i 62a ano thence into the tankA Accordingly, as the supply pressure increases, the flow regulator disk 64a is compressed to automatically reduce 'the area o! the spiral grooves 65a and thus automatically regl'- ulate the flow of water therethrough in proportion to the increased pressure. Accordingly. the flow of Water through Valve 22d is maintained Silbe stantia'lly consta-nt so as to insure the most quiet and eicient operation.

n the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Thus, the term spiral is used herein in its general sense, and is intended to include both spiral and helical grooves and passageways.

Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodirnents thereof, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a pressure huid supply line, a flow regulator for maintaining the uid iiow substantially constant during variations in supply line pressure, said regulator including walls forming a chamber in said supply line, a resilient distortable element within and abutting said chamber walls, said element having an exterior spiral groove forming a spiral passageway adjacent to said chamber walls for conducting fluid through said chamber, and valve means for introducing uid from the supply line into one end of said chamber so as to utilize the fluid pressure for distorting said element to vary the cross sectional area of the spiral passageway in proportion to variations in supply pressure.

2. In a pressure huid supply line, a resilient distortable flow regulator element having a spiral passageway for conducting fluid from the supply line, and valve means for applying the pressure of fluid in the supply line axially oi the distortable element to vary the cross sectional area of the spiral passageway in proportion to variations in supply pressure.

3. A device for regulating the flow of water to a flush tank and the like, including a housing, a l'supply line communicating with said housing, a resilient distortable element in said housing having an exterior spiral rib abutting said housing walls to form a spiral passageway adjacent to said walls, said passageway being adapted to conduct water from the supply line through the housing to the fiush tank, and valve means for introducing water from said supply line into one end of said housing so as to utilize the water pressure for distorting said element to vary the cross sectional area of the spiral passageway in proportion to variations in supply pressure.

4. In a pressure iiuid supply line, a iiow regulator ior maintaining the iiuid iiow substantially constant during variations in supply line pressure, said regulator including walls forming a cylindrical chamber in said supply line, a resilient distortable cylindrical element within and abutting said chamber walls, said element having an exterior helical groove in its cylindrical surface adjacent to said chamber walls for conducting fluid through said chamber, and means for introducing fluid from the supply line into said chamber axially of said element so as to utilize the fluid pressure for longitudinally compressing said element to vary the cross sectional area of the helical groove in proportion to variations in supply pressure.

f 5. In a pressure iiuid supply line, a resilient distortable cylindrical element having a helical passageway in its cylindrical surface for conducting ,fluid from the supply line, and means for applying the pressure of fluid in the supply line axially of said element for longitudinally compressing the distortable element to vary the cross sectional area of the helical passageway in proportion to variations in supply pressure.

6. A device for regulating the iiow of water to a ush tank and the like, including a cylindrical housing, a supply line communicating with said housing, a resilient distortable cylindrical element in said housing having an exterior helical rib abutting said housing walls to form a helical passageway adjacent to said walls, said passageway being adapted to conduct water from the supply line through said housing to the tank, said element having a longitudinal bore open at its inlet end and closed at its outlet end, and means for introducing water from said supply line into the inlet end of said housing for distorting said element to vary the cross sectional area of the hellcal passageway in proportion to variations in supply pressure.

'7. A device for regulating the flow of water to a ush tank and the like, including a cylindrical housing, a supply line communicating with one end of said housing, a cylindrical resilient 4distortable element in said housing having an exterior helical rib abutting said housing walls to form a helical passageway adjacent thereto, said passageway being adapted to conduct water through said housing to the ush tank, said distortable element having a longitudinal bore open at its inlet end and closed at its outlet end, and said bore being tapered from its open inlet end to a smaller cross sectional area at its closed outlet end.

8. In a pressure fluid supply line, a flow regulator for maintaining the iiuid flow substantially constant during variations in supply line pressure, said regulator including walls forming a chamber in said supply line, one of said chamber walls being movable, a resilient distortable element within and abutting said chamber walls, said element having an exterior spiral groove forming a spiral passageway adjacent to one of said chamber walls for conducting fluid through said chamber, and means for applying the pressure of the uid in the supply line against said movable wall to distort said element and vary the cross sectional area of the spiral passageway in proportion to variations in supply pressure.

9. A device for regulating the ow of water to a flush tank and the like, including a housing, a supply line communicating with said housing one of said housing walls being movable, a resilient distortable element in said housing having an exterior spiral rib abutting one of said housing walls to forni a spiral passageway adjacent thereto, said passageway being adapted to conduct water from the supply line through said housing to the tank, and means for applying the pressure of the Water in the supply line to the movable housing wall to distort said element and vary the cross sectional larea of the spiral passageway in proportion to variations in the water supply pressure.

- RUTHERFORD H. HUNTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Aiile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,964,300 Perry et al June 26, 1934 2,289,905 Dasher s- July 14, 1942 

